Why Mac

My wife is looking for a laptop for photoshop, indesign and other graphic programs (not 3d). She told me that most of the people in the graphic industry use Mac`s.

I`ve looked at some Mac`s at Bestbuy and I can`t tell the what makes them better for graphics then regular laptops. It seem they all are based on the same components.

Could someone explain it to me ?

Thanks
Marcin

 

Design people like pretty things?

 

Once upon a time, these machines were the only ones with the proper software available for graphic design.

This time is long past, and many (far far too many if you ask me) have stuck to old habits.

There is no longer an advantage - in fact, Adobe releases new products for PC long before the same product is release for Mac.

 

Yes, a Mac only has physical aesthetics, but lacks the bang for the buck as well as the most recent components. It also lacks the compatibility with most of the programs and software that is out there. So I personally don't see an advantage to Apple, other than nicely built systems.

 

I agree with this, you would do fine with either a mac or a pc in the designs.

It's not only just about bang to buck for those professionals in the design department, they would probably want reliability of the system and warranty service repairs.

 

So considering apple laptops have the highest failure rate in the industry, that's another reason not to buy mac!

 

Really? I would think Dells or something else low end would.

 

They're surpassed in failure rates only by the low-end brands like Acer, Toshiba, and Gateway. But of the "reputable" brands - HP, Dell, Lenovo - they're the least reliable.
So your Thinkpad, Precision, Latitude, etc will last longer than your MBP... especially considering the failure rates on the last gen because of the faulty Nvidia chips (NOT APPLE'S FAULT) and the failure rates on the new MBP's because of the high end chip in too small a package, it cannot be cooler properly (APPLE'S FAULT).

 

Link to backup this claim?

 

I knew this was coming, how could it not in a subforum of people dedicating themselves to said brand?
Well, I've got links that backup what I say, as there are links that would say apple has the overall lowest and links that would say apple has the overall highest. Unfortunately, the results to studies like this are always changing, and the methods for conducting these studies are also not always reliable. In the end, my personal experience, both from past ownerships as well as from a professional standpoint working in the PC repair industry, the results I see are that Acer is pretty much the worst brand out there, followed by Toshiba. Many Gateways and HPs are alongside this. Then I see lots of failed Apples (though I do admit, most of the failed Macs I see are G5s). Next would be Dell, with Lenovo taking the lead by far. Those things are tanks.
So rather than post a link saying one thing when 20 other links are available confirming, denying, rebutting - I'll post what my experience with hundreds of PCs has led me to see, as has that of my co workers and superiors - I would say that we're all easily in agreement. After all, you can google anything you want and find a link telling you that you are correct if you look hard enough.

 

In reality, there's no need for a Mac anymore, in most cases. Adobe and design software used to centralize around Macs, so Macs were the de facto design computers (might I add they really still are), by necessity. But Adobe is now fully functional in Windows (and actually Windows features more than Mac Adobe does currently, 64 bit being one thing), so in reality you don't need a Mac.

Although, generally the industry is still Mac, by convention and by "image". Walk into a design firm and likely it will be full of Macs, and not to say you will be looked down upon for walking in with a PC, but its kind of like a businessman coming in a cheap 1990 Civic (as opposed to say a sleek Mercedes).

There are some cases, such as Final Cut, when Macs are still necessary though!

 

yeah. i was also going to mention final cut studio and logic studio.

these are two design suites offered by apple for the mac. its professional level software and you'll need a mac to run it.

apple doesn't really offer a 1st party professional graphics suite. thats covered by a 3rd party, adobe. so yes, its available for windows.

i would still get her a mac if she wants it just on principle.

 

Is your wife an expert in computer troubleshooting (i.e. geek)? If not, Mac is much easier to use and less crash prone, software wise.

 

Yep, I have to agree. There is NO reason to use a Mac anymore. I,myself am switching back to Windows, love the system, OS X is sort of a waste and there's no software for it. I, as well as the entire computing world will always have a much better experience using a Windows PC. Microsoft, here's my wallet.

 

Your signature says otherwise.

 

Put simply you have no proof lol.

 

I think it really depends on what you will use. I used PC since the days of DOS and Windows 3.0. I WAS an avid user of the OS, until the barrage of virus, IE vulnerabilities, and even applications bug (remember ICQ instant DDOS?) forced me to install bunch of security software. Problem is, this security software slows down your PC like crazy (SPySweeper) and sometimes they itself have bugs (Norton, u hear me??). Worse, they created havoc with my development environment.

I switch to a Mac because I am developing for the iPhone. I still have my 5 other laptops running Windows and was dedicating the Mac for iPhone development. Well, after using it for 1 week, I was floored with OSX and made my MBP the primary machine. Heck, even my Eee PC is now running OS X 10.5.5!

Bottom line, the easue of OS X and "it just work" feature is what got me (as a developer). BUT, if you just need mail, browsing, and office, yeah, ge a PC..maybe an Eee PC.

Read this excellent Blog about switching from Windows to Mac:

Part I: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/23/my-dad-the-switcher-day-zero/
Part II: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/31/my-dad-the-switcher-day-7/

 

In other words, you're full of it.....and yes, I'm sure I can find a Google link to prove it.

 

You're right. He's just showing how cool and computer savvy he is by using OS X on something it's not meant to be on. Kind of like the geek version of name dropping.

 

It depends on what you're using it for.

OS X saved me from immense pain and agony I was having with my projects.

 

Why should I argue with fanboys? If I went and googled for links, then you'd just rebuttal with exactly what I just posted. Enjoy your Mac, you owning a Mac does not affect me. In fact, if you are happy with it, that is excellent and I have no problem with it. But considering I've owned more Macs than I have owned more PCs (and will never buy one again), I'm just throwing out my opinion to those who do not yet own them.
And I don't think lanwarrior's post is any true testament against PC or for Mac - anyone who uses Norton and Spysweeper is clearly uneducated and almost certainly got the PC at Best Buy (since that combo of software is exactly what BB pushes)

 

Don't get a Mac! They are a piece of s$%t! Trust me Windows all the way! Mac fanboys can kiss my a$s%! I would never touch Apple filth, Steve and them lot is a piece of work! Why get a Mac, they just a waste of your money. I'm always been with Windows! Screw Apple I-pods and their crap Iphone; Get a zune and a G1! Mac users are A-holes!

-This is what a Windows Fanboy would have answered

My real opinion is if you're the kind of person who is into editing a lot of videos and making music, I would definitely get a Mac; I do edit videos and music myself but I found similar programs that work on Windows just as well (sony Vegas, Audacity, After Effects...). However a Mac would do a much better job. (I have used a Mac to edit a video before, I was quite impress, but I much prefer Windows.)

If you are an expert in troubleshooting computer problems, then I might go with Windows; Windows can only be troublesome to those who don't know how to maintain a healthy computer or troubleshoot a problem.

However if you do go with Mac, you will be limited to Apple. With Windows, you have the choice of buying from Alienware (my M17 sweet!), Dell, Hp, Asus, etc... You are also limited to the programs you can use on a Mac.

So I guess in the end, it's up to your preferences. If you're a music or video enthusiast with little computer skills, go with a Mac. Gaming is even possible seeing as how new MacBook Pros come with a Nvidia 9600m. If you are the kind of person who wants to be able to have options (Software or Hardware) then I might go with Windows.

I myself am a Window user (and much rather prefer Windows over Mac), but I would buy a Mac as a side thing if I ever had enough money for another computer.

 

You put up a generic statement making it sound like some serious study or consumer report when in fact it is just your opinion. Then you accuse people of being fanboys when asked where you got the information. LOL.

 

As much as I dislike Macs, I find your argument to not hold any water. I am a daily follower of many tech sites (Engadget, Gizmodo, TUAW, Download Squad) and I have not read anything about Macs having higher number of failures. I would love to join you in this argument, but at the moment all I see is a Window fanboy who is just trying to instigate an argument with fellow Mac users.

 

Okay... please give me the data then instead of simply telling me my professional experience is incorrect.
I went and looked and did not find any data newer than 2005. Maybe I missed it. I would gladly be proven wrong, again, I am merely touting my experience. I just don't consider the internet to be a reliable source of information (unless of course it really IS a reliable website - but techno blogs, forums, etc generally don't count), so I didn't think there was much point in finding the data anyway.
Also I'm not a PC fanboy... I have computers in my home running OSX, Xubuntu, Windows XP, and Windows Vista... I have just become very militant in my defense of Microsoft as they've gotten a lot of undeserved bad press, and with that, Macs have become trendy... which makes me militant against them.
But I am acting like a PC fanboy, and I'm going to stop. Because I hate fanboys - I'm a fan of whatever is most functional.

 

I am also going on experience. I attend a school with many Geeks and Nerds who use Macs. So far none of them have had problems. One of my professors uses a G4 laptop and he has not had any problems with overheating or system failures. Many of my friends are using 5 or 3 year old Macs without any problems. One of them also just got a new MacBook and they are just loving it.

 

Oh Jesus.
Please stop. This is not going anywhere. Everybody will use what they want for whatever they need.

Please stop with the Mac bashing. I'm really getting sick and freaking tired of this.

Either that, or I swear to God I'm going to become the most annoying troll and start posting "Get a Mac" replies in all the Windows-Based forum categories on NBR.

 

The thing here is that if your opinion about Apple is based on what you read on forums... you'll find only problems, I mean, the guy who has a problem will post his problem on a forum in order to find a solution, and the others who don't have any kind of problems are not going to post "YAYYYYY I love it, I don't have any problem with it..." (well, you can find some of those but not many)

 

The title is "Why Mac", not "Why Not Mac".
Therefore, I believe it is only correct to give supporting reasons that correspond to the original questions that reinforce the Mac and its positives, or pros. This thread should be assessing the pros of the macs, not necessarily the cons. It is amazing how a thread transforms into nonsense, utterly corrupting the original incentive for replying.
Get with it.
Get back to the topic of "Why Mac" and apologize to the OP for your convoluted opinions on fanboys, and Mac or Windows supporters, etc.

 

This thread is going nowhere. Oh Sam!...Where are you....

 

Nice job.

(10 char)

 

ROFL, ok so you try to pass off some BS, is not willing to back it up, spews some "personal opinion" to cover your butt, and you want people to prove you wrong? Go troll somewhere else please. There are valid reasons to like Macs and to hate it. Yours doesn't seem to belong in that category.

 

Guys, let's calm it down here! Back to helping the original poster: should he and his wife get a Mac for design?

 

No. (10Chars)

 

Sure, If you have the money, don't need to heavy specs, and would like to have an ascetically pleasing computer, then go for it!

 

I guess I should re-iterate my suggestions . A Mac is no longer essential for design (except for in Final Cut and Logic), but it is common in the design world for designers to be Mac users, by convention. Your wife would probably be respected more being a Mac user (same idea that a businessman arriving in a Mercedes is "looked up to" vs. if he came in a 1990s Camry).

 

Most people use Macs in design because 1) they like the culture/style, 2) they need OSX. If not 2) decide how much 1) is worth. A good option is to get a used older MBP. The MBP 4.1 is much less while being about the same in performance.

 

I'd pay you to see that......not much, but I'd still pay you!

 

Personally, I didn't start using a Mac because of the culture/style........I started using a Mac because I fell in love with OS X. It's easy to use, elegant, and (pardon the infamous pun) it just works.

 

plus, os 10 scales well across levels of computer users. technical geeky types will find much to love, with some hunting. and light computer users will likely run into less problems.

 

No... just no. Technical geeky types either go for windows or more likely Linux. OSX is the most unfriendly to hackers of the three. "Light" computer users of course love macs because of its simplicity and that things just work (most of the time).

OP: I wouldn't recommend a mac. They cost a bomb and their specs are frequently underwhelming. Being in the graphic design industry, you'd be wanting something with some power in it (unless you're willing to fork out more money for the slightly more powerful version of the macbook pro)

 

Hep!; Post proof, or don't post in the Mac section again. All you did in this thread was drop off a crate of poo-flinging monkeys, and left everybody else to clean up the mess.

Op; I personally wouldn't use a laptop for primary design work, but that is just how I work. I prefer to use a more powerful desktop for all my main work, then use a laptop to do minor work in the field.

Would I use a Mac? Of course. 95% of all my computer time is on a Mac, and if Apple ever released a fully rugged laptop, I'd get one. I prefer the OS interface, and I feel both the hardware and software are more refined (as well as matched for each other).

Dollar for dollar, spec for spec, Macs are only slightly more expensive, and you get a very nice looking unit to go with it.

 

If I were a serious designer, and if this thread is about laptops, then I'd say there are a lot of satisfactory laptops with respect to processing power, but the more important factor would be the screen. The Dell Precision screens show 100% of the Adobe Color Gamut. The New 15.4" MBP has maybe 90% and the 17" around 70%.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/workstation-precision-m6400?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

 

Multi-touch. Can't live without it.

 

Macs are not immune to crashing and freezing. I have had a range of Macs dating from the late 1980s to the 2000s. They all had freezing and crashing problems. I had an old black and white monochrome Macintosh box that crashed so much, I literally had to save every 2 minutes in case it crashed or froze. Prior OS 9, OS 8, OS 7, etc. were buggy and awful. OS 8 was almost as bad as Windows ME. It was only when Apple switched to BSD and OSX did the OS become respectable and reliable.

 

unless you are just stuck up and don't like osx on principle of it being an apple product, people generally don't have this opinion. or maybe if you think tinkering with the operating system is the same thing as installing a skin someone else made to change the appearance of the desktop.

i know a TON of geeky people who know windows up and down, and love linux as the best thing since sliced bread, compile all of their software for their machine to maximize performance, and then also go out of their way to run osx86. unix is basically universally seen as a good thing, and there is a lot of tinkering available through the unix terminal. at the same time, the terminal is not required for basic computer use, ever. but its there and its available.